Master's degree orchestra conducting

Programme details

Basically, working as an orchestra conductor who has to meet the complex requirements of the professional market (sinfonia, opera, oratorio, operetta, musical etc.) means to effectively take over leadership. The artistic-educational process can only be successful if it is moderated by a qualified artistic personality. A conductor’s persuasive power originates from an extensive theoretical knowledge (diversified repertoire analysis, knowledge about stylistic variety, instruments’ specifics etc.), well-grounded aural skills, expressive body language and a wide experience in dealing with orchestras and ensembles (e. g. during rehearsals and knowledge about group dynamics). The Master’s programme in Orchestra Conducting has been based on the Bachelor’s course and thus on the competence students have gained from its modules. Several segments will be covered in depths during the Master’s study. Knowledge expansion regards both the repertoire and study fields that had been introduced but not deepened during the first cycle. Furthermore, students may specialize in their preferred areas.

One crucial target of the study course is to emphasise practice-related components (rehearsals, practical working periods) and to enable students to work independently.

After all, the aim of the study course is to qualify graduates in such a way that they will be accepted by a professional market that has big expectations of conductors with regards to both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Course Profile

Official Length of the programme: two years, 120 ECTS-credits

Start of the course: winter semester as well as summer semester

Application period: 1 October to 1 December for the summer semester. | 1 March to 1 May for the winter semester.

The Master’s course aims towards educating artists who are able to work as conductors in all professional fields that music theatres and concert halls offer. Due to the complexity of the profession, graduates have to possess substantiated artistic, educational as well as social competence to master the challenge to work as a music director. One special educational goal is to prepare Master’s graduates to take over managerial functions.

Foreign students whose native language is not German must provide evidence that their knowledge of German is sufficient for their chosen course. For the Master’s degree (Orchestra), students are required to have reached level B2 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Applicants’ linguistic competence will be established during the aptitude test.

Submitting a recording of the presentation of the 2nd International Conference Finales from W. A. Mozart LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (No. 15 8. Scene + 9. Scene / 11. Scene to end) at the piano with vocal markings of the vocal part

Recording of the conducting of a concert or rehearsal with an orchestra (approx. 20 minutes) with at least two contrasting work or parts thereof (of your choice)

The 2nd part of the aptitude test (presence test) is expected to take place in September in Rostock, provided you pass the digital part. It covers all parts of the examination that are still missing (e.g. playing at sight tasks, work with singers or Orchestra (instrumental ensemble), as stipulated in the aptitude test regulations of the Rostock University of Music und Drama for the corresponding courses of study.